City Council

QUARTERLY ROUNDTABLE MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2014 THE SPECIAL QUARTERLY ROUNDTABLE OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT RICHMOND CITY HALL AT 5:32 P.M., ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014, BY MAYOR RIX. ROLL CALL Present: Goodar, Greene, LaFore, Misteravich, Rix, Schultz, Yaroch Absent: None Others: City Manager Moore, City Clerk Stagl Visitors: Library/Recreation Director Kammer, Melissa Majchrzak, Alana Stump AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION None received. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion by Yaroch, seconded by Greene, to adopt the Agenda as presented. All yeas Motion passes ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION 1. Discussion on Items of General Concern Recreation Board Special Meeting City Manager Moore informed Council that as a result of a joint Library/Recreation Board meeting, the Recreation Board formed a committee to begin t0 look at the existing Recreation budget and find ways to make positive changes in the department. The Recreation Committee presented their finding to the Recreation Board at a special meeting held on October 14, 2014. The Recreation Board feels that the Library Department and Recreation Department would be better served with a separate Director for each department. The Recreation Quarterly Roundtable: 11/21/2014 Page 1 of 4 Board is proposing that they have a dedicated Director with a 32 hour work week. To achieve this, the Recreation Board has compiled a list of cuts and cost saving measures. Council discussed their proposed cuts and cost saving measures at length. It was also suggested that maintenance of the facilities be removed from the Recreation Department budget and placed under the responsibility of the DPW – this would also free up some time for a part-time Recreation Department. City Manager Moore and Council agreed that he and the City Treasurer would review the proposal presented by the Recreation Board to determine if it was feasible – if not, Administration will come up with some alternatives. Potential EMS Facility City Manager Moore informed Council that he met with Jeff White, the EMS Director and Richmond Township Supervisor, Cindi Greenia, regarding the proposed need to expand/relocate their current EMS Facility. The reason they asked to meet was to discuss whether City Water and Sewer would be available for the new EMS Facility. There are currently sewer and water lines near 33 Mile Road. The water is in a 12” water line within the 33 Mile Road right of Way. The sanitary sewer is in an 8” line that runs underneath a private street in Swan Creek North, Maplewood Lane. Along with the City’s permission to tap the line, EMS would need an easement, from the homeowners association, to get to the sewer line. Council discussed the request and was in favor of extending water and sewer services, under certain conditions. Council Recessed at 6:50 p.m. Council Recessed at 7:03 p.m. Council Meeting Time and Location Rix discussed the possibility of having an earlier start time for Council meetings during the summer month and to periodically hold meeting at different City facilities. After some discussion, Council was in agreement that Meetings could begin at 6:00 p.m. for the months of July and August. This item would be placed on the November 3rd meeting agenda for Council action. Resolution Moving Council Election Quarterly Roundtable: 11/21/2014 Page 2 of 4 Most Councilors were not in favor of moving Council Elections to even years. Councilors felt that the local election would get overlooked on the large November General Election ballots. Yaroch stated that he originally was in favor of moving the election to even year November elections because of the cost savings. He spoke with Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics, who recommended not moving Council’s election to the even year November General Election. Although, he was not comfortable with having a separate election for Council, he was withdrawing his support of moving Council election to even years. Misteravich was not in favor of moving the election, but if the majority of Council was in support of moving the election, he would suggest that the issue be placed on the ballot for the residents to vote on. Schultz was not in favor of moving Council elections. LaFore could go either way – whatever the majority of Council wanted. Rix was originally in support of moving the election as a cost savings measure, but will get lost on a large federal or state ballot – therefore, was withdrawing his support of moving the election. The consensus of Council was to leave the Council Election as is – odd year November election. Vietnam War Commemoration Greene distributed information to Council on the ’Commemorative Partner Program’. This was a program designed to thank and honor Vietnam Veterans and their families by planning and conducting events and activities that will recognize the Vietnam Veterans and their families’ service, valor, and sacrifice. She would be willing to head up the program. Council was in support of the program, but did recommend that Greene speak with the Richmond VFW to find out if they were aware of the program and if so, did they have any events planned. If the VFW had events planned the City should only partner with the VFW. We need to check with the VFW first before this item is placed on the Agenda for Council to approve becoming a program partner. COUNCIL COMMENTS None received. Quarterly Roundtable: 11/21/2014 Page 3 of 4 ADJOURNMENT Motion by Schultz, seconded by Misteravich, to adjourn the Special Quarterly Roundtable at 7:55 pm. All yeas Motion passes Respectfully submitted: Karen Stagl City Clerk Quarterly Roundtable: 11/21/2014 Page 4 of 4